Spoilers are ahead for Hacks season 3, episode 2, “Better Late.”
With a 98% certified fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Hacks season 3 is yet another top-notch installment of the beloved Max series. The dramedy centers on legendary comedian Deborah Vance (Emmy-winning actor Jean Smart), who wants to reinvent herself after her Las Vegas residency starts to feel stale. Decades before, Deborah was lauded for her boundary-pushing comedy, but, along the way, she lost her drive. When Deborah meets the down-on-her-luck millennial comedy writer Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder), the duo discover an enriching, infuriating, and truly singular creative partnership.
At the end of Hacks‘ sophomore outing, Deborah is a viral sensation. The comedian has done the impossible and reinvented herself after decades of stagnation. This leads Deborah to fire Ava, insisting that the young writer needs to be pushed out of the nest in order to move on and achieve greatness. In between Hacks seasons 2 and 3, Ava and Deborah don’t speak. Ava even goes to couple therapy with her partner to work out all of her Deborah issues. However, by the end of Hacks season 3’s second episode, the creative partners have reunited — for better and worse.
One of Hacks‘ most compelling stories revolves around Deborah’s late-night talk show hosting gig that never came to fruition. In Hacks season 1, episode 3, “A Gig’s a Gig,” Ava finds an unopened package in Deborah’s trash from her estranged sister. Inside are clippings from Deborah’s heyday, including an issue of Time magazine with Deborah on the front. The cover story is all about Deborah becoming the first woman to host a late-night talk show. Ultimately, that dream never happened, though Ava uncovers the unaired pilot, and it helps her see Deborah in a new light.
Around the same time, Deborah’s marriage was falling apart; the comedian’s husband and sister were having an affair. Over the years, Deborah has come to terms with her dream slipping away, but it’s still a sore spot. In Hacks season 3, Deborah is invited to make an appearance on the very same talk show, but, when the host falls ill, the network asks her to guest host. Before going out on stage for the taping, Deborah catches a glimpse of herself in the mirror: Her younger self — the one who taped the unaired pilot — looks back.
As Deborah takes a moment to look in the mirror, she reflects on the decades that have passed, and on the moment she wasn’t able to seize all those years ago. The comedian has more than earned her moment on the late-night stage, and it’s all hitting her hard. When Deborah turns away to face the curtains, her younger self remains in the mirror. Together, present-day Deborah and the young Deborah Vance part the curtains and take the stage. While it’s a small detail, the mirror scene is also one of Hacks‘ most poignant moments.
Although Deborah has a tough-as-nails exterior, the show never forgets to remind viewers of the comedian’s softer side. During the height of her career, Deborah had to overcome (or at least deal with) so much adversity, both personally and professionally. She never had time to take a moment or grieve the difficult things. Instead, she was forced to work harder — and keep a smile plastered on her face. There’s no denying Deborah Vance’s toxic traits or mean streak, but it’s also true that she was shaped by challenging circumstances that still follow her in the present.
In Hacks season 3, episode 1, Deborah enters a comedy club and barely says two words before the crowd is in stitches. She can’t understand it. They’re laughing because they love her — not because they’re really listening to her jokes. Fame and success have always been incredibly fickle, and Deborah doesn’t take any moment lightly. In the span of one guest hosting gig, Deborah sees the whole of her career — and life — reflected. A love letter to comedy, Hacks portrays the art form as a compelling means of self-reflection.